On Our Radar

On Our Radar

Report: Apple Hiring Former Google Engineers to Fix Maps App

Apple’s (AAPL) iOS 6 Maps app is a big mess. Hot off news that Apple had listed six new job positions for developers to help fix its new Maps app, TechCrunch has learned from an inside source that the company is already hiring former Google (GOOG) Maps employees. Its source claims that many ex-Google Maps workers are being snapped up by Apple as their contracts end and Google’s ambitions turn away from Street View and turn-by-turn navigation to indoor mapping.

“One guy looked around for other GIS work and ended up at Apple when a recruiter contacted him. He had heard rumors for a while that Apple was going to develop its own in-house mapping platform, and given his experience at Google, he was an easy hire. Apple went out of their way to bring him down to Cupertino and he’s now paid hansomly [sic] as a GIS Analyst.” notes TechCrunch.

There’s no doubt that Apple has enough cash to improve its new foray into maps, but it has a lot of work to do in order to match Google’s 7,100-person Maps workforce. Robust mapping systems aren’t built overnight; they’re built from years of collecting data from millions of devices . Hopefully, Apple’s new hires will make a difference.